Seat device



June 2, 1959 c. w. HART SEAT DEVICE Filed Maron 24, 1955 ignited StatesPatent s e SETTDEVICE ChaleslV. HartyPark-Ridge, Ill: Application-March24,1955; serial Nd: 496,385 aciaims; (crassstayY This invention relatestoa` sea't"de`vice, actually and primarily an auxiliary seat, adjustableas to effective heightland primarily for use by children.

Thefseatdevice hereof, howeverphaslmany iuses, not specifically `limitedto use by children-but is of` general utility `as Willhereinafterappear.

Thisseat device may serve as ari-auxiliaryfor adjustable seat, in'combination with a conventional chair or an automobile seat, or othermore orti less conventional seating device.`

Theseat device hereof may alsowbeused alone as a hassocktypefseat. Theseat devicevwin any use,l as itis made up of a plurality of cooperatinglayers or lamina, is in effect adjustableto various heights as may be desired. i

Generally described, the seat device in its" preferred form comprises athreeLlayer-construction of substantially square units of suitablematerial and preferablyof such thickness that in the* use 'of one; -two#oralll-threei'n stacked relation, a seatdevice of varying anddesiredhightmay be"provided. Details of the preferred construction-willhereinafter be disclosed.

The principal object of 'this invention is the provision of a seatdevice which is adjustable or possibly, more accurately, is capable ofarrangement to provide seating of differing heights.

A further object is to provide a seat device of wide usefulness andadaptability. Other objects are to provide such a device which is lightin weight, simple in construction, but which, however, is sturdy andrelatively simple and cheap to produce.

The invention hereof is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is an elevation in perspective showing the devicepositioned on an ordinary chair;

Figure 2 is what might be termed an exploded view, in perspective, aportion broken away and in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the assembleddevice; and

Figure 4 is a perspective of a part of a unit.

1n the drawing the seat device is designated in its entirety by numeral10, shown in Figure l, as positioned on a straight chair 11 of the typeordinarily referred to as a dining room or dinette chair. It is to beunderstood that the showing of the seat device 10 as positioned on chair11 is merely representative and that the seat device 10 may bepositioned on any other type of chair, on an automobile seat, or on `thefloor to provide seating at a desired height. The desired height may beobtained by appropriate and suitable combination f the elements whichmake up the seat device 10.

By way of example, seat device is shown as made up of three cooperatingelements or parts 13, 14 and 15. Each of these parts 13, 14 and 15 arepreferably of the same dimensions, except as to height, so that theywill stack evenly. The height of the parts preferably differ so 2 thatbydiifrent combinations differing over-all heights or seat adjustmentmay *be obtained.`

AI preferred size of elements is aboutflZ/z to 13 inches squarebut couldjust as well be anywhere from between about 10 to 16 inches square.` Ifdesiredthe individual parts may be round or of disc shape, orrectangular, or of other desired shape. In anycase Athe dimensions `ofthese parts are to be such that they will `seat on-the chair orthe likeAwithwhich they are to be used and'will provide comfortable seatingarea.

The parts or *layers 13, 14"and 15-are preferably of different heightsso that the parts in various combina` tions will afford seatings ofdesired height. If these parts are respectively of heights of l inch, `linch and `2 inches, the three'of these parts 13,"14-and 15,1Awhenstacked on a chair seat, willraisethe seat by 4 inches, a single l inchpart willgof `course,-raise `the seat by`l inch, the-tWol inch parts,stacked, by 2 inches, and a il inch part stacked with the 2 inch partwill raise'ltheseat by 3 inches. The combination ot" units, asdescribed, selectively stacked las explainedgprovide seating selectivelyl, 2, 3 or 4 inches high.

While the seat device has been described as made up of threepar'ts,` itmay alternatively be comprised of a greateror evenless number of parts,say, from 2 to 5. Asingle seat part would not provide lfor any heightvariation.` More than v'e Aparts would be cumbersome and tendV tofb`e`unwieldy.`

The individual parts of seat device-10 are pr'eferably`made`-`ofi"fibe`rlboard of the `type ordinarily referred toas liber`insulating' board! Suchlboard isreasonably finnland provides a degree ofresilience. It is of light weightand of* relatively low costandadniirably adapted-to' the purpose:` p

Byiwaylof example, eac'hbfpar'ts` 13, 14 `and15may conveniently comprisea block 4ofiiber insulation board, say 121/2 x 121/2 and of thicknessessay, l, l and 2", respectively.

Each of the parts 13, 14 and 15 is formed with similar lugs orprojections 22, 23 and 24, each provided with a similar slot or opening27, 28 and 29. A suitable member such as strap 32 may be passed throughslots 27, 28 and 29 to retain the group of parts 13, 14 and 15 inassembled relation. Alternatively, slots 33 may be provided in the edgesof the parts 13, 14 and 15 and an elastic band 34 may be applied to holdthe parts assembled.

Preferably the top seat part 13 is provided with a foam rubber or feltlayer designated at 36 and this is suitably covered with an upholsteryfabric or sheet plastic or the like 37.

All the surfaces of parts 14 and 15 and edges and bottom of parts 13 arepreferably covered or coated `with a suitable non-skid or non-slipcompound, numerous of which are readily available. Most of suchcompounds have a rubber or rubbery base, suitable solvent, and a finelydivided filler, and a coating of which dries to a non-slipping skin orsurface coating.

A coating of such friction or non-slip composition on the supportingsurfaces of the parts of the seat will assure that they do not slip inuse.

Since many chair seats and the like are formed slightly convex, ifdesired the bottom surfaces of units 13, 14 and 15 may be formed with aslight concavity, as indicated in Figure where such formation is shown.Such construction will assure firm Contact of the auxiliary seat on thechair seat, or like, on which it may be placed.

The auxiliary seat above described displaces the telephone directory asa makeshift seat elevator for bringing little Percys mouth above theedge of the dinner table when he visits grandma. Such makeshift isdangerous. The telephone book or Sears catalog, or the like, usuallylfavlcented.J June `2t, 1959V has more or less slippery surfaces and mayslide little Percy onto the floor, and in addition the book available isseldom of the thickness to aiord proper elevation.

The seat of the invention overcomes the deiiciencies of makeshifts asreferred to and provides seating readily adjustable as to height whichis safe and which is cheap and simple to manufacture. The seat devicehereof may be used on an ordinary chair or any relatively flat surfaceof suicient area, as, for example, as a hassock on the floor. In anyuse, however, by the use of the various combinations of the variousparts a seat height as desired may be obtained.

The invention hereof having been fully described, I claim:

1. A seat device of selective varying overall height comprising aplurality of independent stacking blocks of ber insulation boardassembled in superimposed relation, each block of substantially equaland approximately square area, at least one unit of the plurality ofblocks differing in thickness from that of another unit of suchplurality of blocks, each such block similarly positioned and adjacentan edge thereof provided with a slot extending through the thickness ofthe block, a face of a unit of the plurality of blocks shaped to concaveform and approximating the general convexity of surface usual to diningroom chair seats, the concave form of the face of the block extendingsubstantially to but not entirely to three of the edges of thesubstantially square unit whereby an upstanding ilange-like portionbounds the concavity along three of the edges of the unit, another unitof a set provided with an upholstered surface and securing means ofcross section substantially of the cross section of said slots extendingthrough the slots of the superimposed assembly of blocks and restrainingdisplacement of the blocks of an assembly, one with respect to anotherthereof.

2. A seat device of selective varying overall height comprising aplurality of independent stacking blocks of ber insulation boardassembled in superimposed relation, each block of substantially equaland approximately square area, at least one unit of the plurality ofblocks differing in thickness from that of another unit of suchplurality of blocks, each such block similarly positioned and spacedfrom a corner'formed by contiguous side edges thereof slotted, the slotsextending from face to face of the unit, a face of a unit of theplurality of blocks shaped to concave Aform and approximating thegeneral convexity of surface usual to dining room chair seats, theconcave form of the face of the block extending substantially to lbutnot entirely to three of the edges of the substantially square unitwhereby an upstanding flangelike portion bounds the concavity alongthree of the edges of the unit, another unit of a set provided with anupholstered surface, and securing means positioned in said slots andextending across the top and bottom faces of the stack of superimposedblocks and securing the blocks as a unit.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 79,441Boughton June 30, 1868 291,931 Piutti Ian. 15, 1884 1,752,105 Nash Mar.25, 1930 2,022,557 Gaggiano Nov. 26, 1935 2,060,298 Gailey Nov. 10, 19362,108,242 Wallace Feb. 12, 1938 2,297,771 Johnson Oct. 6, 1942 2,321,486Holt June 8, 1943 2,659,484 Averill Nov. 17, 1953 2,700,462 Kramer Jan.25, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 924,785 France Mar. 17, 1947 OTHER REFERENCESDennison Mfg. Co., 1907 catalogue, p. 29 items. (Copy in Design Div.)

Modern Plastics Catalog, October 1939 p. 75. (Copy in Design Div.)

